Will Manual Scooters ever return?

Over the last 10-15 years, there has been a shift in consumer preference when it comes to scooters. In the past, scooters were only offered with manual gearboxes but these days most scooters come equipped with automatic transmissions.

In 1984, Kinetic Honda launched the Kinetic DX equipped with a 98cc, single cylinder, two-stroke engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). In 2000, Honda debuted the Activa. It too was equipped with a CVT and currently commands a 50% market share in the scooter segment in India. The popularity of the aforementioned models were responsible for the demise of the geared scooter. In recent times, Honda tried to revive the geared scooter in the form of the Eterno. It was equipped with a 4-speed transmission however it too did not meet success.

Today, a potential two wheeler rider in the budget segment chooses between the convenience and practicality of a gearless scooter or the mileage and comfort of an entry-grade motorcycle. Therefore, the market for geared scooters has simply vanished ever since the introduction of CVT in the 2-wheeler segment.